Machine for grinding and finishing cylinders



I K. w. CONNOR I 2,138,535

MACHINE FOB GRINDING AND FINISHING CYLINDERS Nov. 29,1938.

Filed Sept. 12, 1935 v I I/f/ INVENTOR. lfirzfe n4 Connor:

ATTORNEY6.

' Patented Nov. 29,1938" MACHINE FOR GRINDING AND Fmsnmc CYLINDERS ,Kirke W. Connor, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Micromatic Hone Corporation, a corporation'of Michigan Application September 12, 1935, Serial No. 40,231 3 Claims. (01. 51-105) The present invention relates to thegrinding and finishing of surfaces, and particularly to an improved method and machine for grinding and finishing the'surfaces of cylinders,

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and machine for grinding and finishing surfaces by which a finishing operation may be rapidlyeffected and an exceedingly refined surface produced.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for finishing surfaces in which, as one step, the surface to be finished is sub-- jected to a rapidly moving abrasive and is slowly fed to the abrasive; and in which, as the second step, the surface to be finished is rapidly moved across an'abrasive.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved finishing method as above stated, in which, in the second step, the abrasive is slowly fed to the rapidly moving surface.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved finishing method as above stated, particularly adapted for finishing and polishing cylinders, in which, as a first step, a

rapidly rotating abrasive wheel is disposed in v surface engagement with a cylinder to be finished and which is slowly fed to the abrasive wheel; and in which, as a second step, the cylinder to be finished is rotated rapidly in surface engagement with an abrasive wheel which is rotated relatively slowly.

It is a further object of the present invention toprovide a method as last stated in which the surface and the abrasive are moved in opposite directions.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved finishing method as above stated, in which the same abrasive is utilized in both of the above stated steps'.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved machine for practising the above method, and embodying driving means for rotating a cylinder and an abrasive wheel together, the abrasive wheel being rotated at a relatively'high rate compared to the rotation of the cylinder in'one instance, and in reverse relation in a second instance.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine as above stated embodying a first train of gears selectively con-- nectible to a driving source for rapidly rotating an abrasive wheel and slowly rotating a cylinder, and a second train of gears also selectively connectible to a source of power for rapidly rotating a cylinder and for relatively slowly rotating an abrasive wheel.

With the above and other objects in view which will become apparent in the following description and in the appended claims, a preferred machine for practising the present invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, throughout the several views of which corresponding reference characters designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the machine;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1;;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of one of the gear trains taken along the line 3-.3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the second gear train, taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

In the illustrated embodiment, the improved.

method and machine for grinding and finishing surfaces are applied to the finishing of cylinders. A cylinder to be finished and an abrasive wheel are rotatably supported in surface engagement,-

and, as illustrated, a common driving source is provided for both the wheel and the cylinder. Duringone step of the finishing operation, the

I abrasive wheel is rotated at a relatively high speed, and the cylinder being finished is rotated at a relatively low speed. This part of the finishing operation is in accordance with usual practice, and it will be understood that the rotation tated. The principal finishing action is derived from the rotation of the cylinder, and the rotation of the abrasive wheel is provided principally to equalize the wear around the surface of the finishing wheel.

During the above mentioned preliminary step, in which the cylinder to be finished is rotated relatively slowly, each increment of the surface thereof is subjected, during each revolution of the cylinder, to a substantial amount of finishing action by the rapidly moving abrasive wheel.

During the second step, however, the relationship is somewhat reversed, each increment of cylinder speeds and, consequently, the relative rates of rotation of the abrasive wheel and of the cylinder vary with different types of surfaces and different types of abrasive wheels. With certain surfaces and abrasive wheels, it has been found satisfactory to, operate the abrasive wheel at approximately 4000 R. P. M. and thecyllnder at approximately 200 R. P. M. during the first step, and during the second step to reverse these rates and operate the cylinder at approximately 4909 R. P. M. and the abrasive wheel at approximately 290 R. P. M. In certain cases, for example, the

case herein illustrated, in which the diameter of the cylinder or work exceeds that of the wheel,

the inversion of the rates of rotation in fact increases the relative surface speeds. In other cases, the relative surface speeds may remain substantially constant, and, in certain cases, may be reduced. The characteristic relation is as recited in the preceding paragraph, that is, in the second or polishing step, the surface speeds are such that each increment of work surface is subjected,

per revolution, to only a minute amount of polishing action.

It will also be understood that the duration of the finishing operation varies considerably with the type of stone and the type of cylinder. Generally, it has been found that the first-step may extend over the period customarily used for the corresponding operation, and that the second step may be completed in somewhat-less time.

. In the form illustrated, the improved machine for practicing the above described method comprises a source of power to which either of two trains of gears may selectively be clutched. The first train of gears operates the grinding wheel in one direction at a relatively high rate and the cylinder in the opposite direction at a relatively low rate. The second train of gears effects the reverse operation, operating the abrasive wheel at a relatively low rate and the cylinder at a relatively high rate. Preferably and as illustrated, the wheels retain the same direction of rotation during both the first and second steps. The machine also preferably embodies readily adjustable means to vary the axial spacing between the abrasive wheel and the cylinder to accommodate different sizes of finishing elements, and also take up any wear which may occur. Preferably, also, these shafts which carry the abrasive wheel and the cylinder are related to at least one of the driving gears carried thereby through a free wheeling or uni-directional clutch, since in this way a single length of shafting may be used for both the high and low rates of rotation of the wheel and cylinder, respectively.

Referring in more detail. to the drawing, an illustrative cylinder I9 to be finished is mounted at one end of a shaft I2 for rotation thereby, and an illustrative wheel I4 is correspondingly carried at one end of a shaft I6 for rotationthereby. Preferably and as illustrated, cylinder I9 and wheel I4 are removably secured to the shaft I2 and I6 respectively by the nuts I8 and 29. Shaft I2 is rotatably supported in bosses 22 formed in arms 21 which are supported upon the machine frame 29. Shaft I8 is rotatably supported in bosses 24 formed at.the end of arms 28, which are pivotally mounted with respect to the remaining parts of the machine, and may be secured in a desired rotative position by the adjusting screw 39. A hand wheel 32 is provided to adjust the position of screw 39 within an internally threaded boss 34 supported upon the machine, and thus ad- .just the relative positions of cylinder I9 and wheel I4: The upper endpf screw 39 is pinned to a boss 49, which is carried by a cross bar 42 extending between the arms 28.

The main drive shaft as is pivotally supported drive shaft 38 through either the train of 'gears shown in detail in Figure 4 and comprising gears 59, 52, 54, 56, 58, 69, 62 and 64';1 or through the train of gears shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3 and comprising gears I9, I2, I4, 16, I8, 89, 82 and 84. Gears I9 and 59 are mountedon shaft I6, the drive between gear 19 and shaft I8 being direct, and the drive between {gear 59 and shaft l6 being through a clutch designated generally as 99 which is of the free-wheeling or uni-directional type. Clutch 99 may be constructed in various ways and the details thereof form no part of the present invention. Asillustrated, clutch 99 comprises a bored out collar 92 which surrounds shaft I9 and a spring 94, one end of which is secured to a lug 96 secured within collar 92. As will be understood, the inner end of spring 94 is free and bears against shaft I6. Rotation of gear 59 in one direction with respect to shaft\l9 causes a partial unwinding of spring 94 resulting in the latter clutching shaft l6 and gear 19 together. Opposite rotation results in shaft I6 rotating freely past the end of spring 94. Gears 64 and 84 are correspondingly related to shaft I2 and constitute a drive for cylinder I9.

The two clusters of gears including gears l2 and 14 and gears 52 and 54, respectively, are each secured upon an intermediate shaft I99, the op-' posite ends of which are rotatably journalled in cooperate with a conventional slidable clutch I98.

Clutch I98 is splined upon the main drive shaft 38, and may be slid thereon to a position in clutching relation to face I94, as illustrated, or to a corresponding clutching position with respect to face I96, by an arm I I 9 pivoted at an intermediate point to a boss H2 secured to the machine base 29', and provided with a conventional bifurcated inner end which carries pins II4 which enter an annular recess H6 in clutch I98.

Considering the operation as a whole and with the parts in the. positions illustrated in Fig. 1, it will be understood that rotation of main drive shaft 38 through pulley 46, effects acorresponding rotation of clutch I08. Clutch I88 being in engagement with face IN, the latter is correspondingly driven and as a consequence, abrasive wheel I4 is driven through the train of gears in-. cluding gears 18, I5, 14, I2 and 10. Similarly,

cylinder in is correspondingly driven, through the train of gears including gears I8, 80, 82 and 84. Due to the relation of the gears of this train, abrasive wheel it thus rotates at a relatively high rate, and cylinder l0 rotates at a relatively low rate. As indicated by the arrows in Figure 2 also, the directions of rotation of wheel 66 and cylinder it are the same but co-engaging peripheral points on the wheel and cylinder move in opposite directions, so that the speeds are cumulative. The rotation of shaft i2 also rotates gear 6d which idly drives the associated gear train, gear ht slipping freely on shaft 56 through clutch 9d.

During this stage of the operation, which, as previously mentioned, may continue for a period which varies with the material of which cylinder iii is formed and also with the character of abrasive wheel it, a preliminary or partial finish is given the surface of cylinder it. its also previously mentioned, the relative rates oi rotationoi cylinder it and. wheel it may vary, approximately 4M0 R. P. M. for wheel i i and approximately 260 R. P. M. for cylinder it having been found satisfactory in the practice of the present invention.

Upon completion oi the preliminary finishingoperation above described, arm i iii may be thrown to the opposite position, sliding clutch tilt along drive shaft 38, disengaging it from face it and bringing it into engagement with face tilt. As will be evident, this action interrupts the driving connection for the train of years including gear it, and renders eiifective the driving connection for the train of gears including gear hi5. Accordingly, because of the reverse gear ratios mustrated in Figure 4, the rate of rotation of abrasive wheel i6 is thereafter relatively low, and the rate of rotation of cylinder it is relatively high. 1min ing this stage, gear it, driven icy shaft it, idly drives the associated train of gears, shait iii slipping freely within gear at through the as scciated clutch.

This stage 02 the operation applies email finish to the surface of cylinder it, substantially refining the finish produced during the his and producing an exceedingly polished suriace. As previously stated, the same abrasive wheel Il may be used for both the first and second described states of the finishing operation, so that a complete finishing operation ineluding both stepsmay be effected without interrupting the rotation'oi the main drive shaft 38.

Although a specific embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be evident that various changes may be made in the mode of practising the improved method, and that various changes in the form, number and arrangement of parts of the improved machine may be made, within the spirit and scope oi. the present invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A machine for running a cylinder in engagement with an abrasive wheel to finish the former comprising means for rotatably supporting said cylinder, means for rotatably supporting said wheel, a common source of power for said cylinder and wheel, a first train of gears interconheating said cylinder and wheel, a second train of gears interconnecting said cylinder and wheel, and means for selectively connecting said trains oi sears to said source of power.

2. Amachine for running a cylinder in eneasement with an abrasive wheel to finish the former comprising means tor rotatahly supporting said cylinder, means for rotatably supportme said wheel, a source of power common to said cylinder and said wheel, means including a first train of gears and a one-wayclutch interconmeeting said cylinder and said wheel, means in=- eluding an additional train of gears and a oneway clutch tor interconnectim said cylinder and said wheel, and means for selectively connectint, said trains or gears to said source of power.

3. A machine for running a cylinder in en eagenient with an abrasive wheel to eflect a finishing operation or the former, comprlsina means for rotatahly supporting said. cylinder, means tor rotatahly supporting said wheel, a drive shaft common to said wheel and cylinder. means connecting said cylinder and wheel to said shaft so that said shait drives said wheel at a rela tiveiy high first rate and drives said cylinder at a relatively low second rate, and means for altering connections so that said shalt drives said cylinder at a rate higher than said second rate and drivea caid wheel at a rate lower than said first ra a 1 w. cornea. 

